VP Mike Pence touts the USMCA in a trip to Franklin County, while Gov. Tom Wolf announced that overdose deaths dropped 18 percent in the state from the previous year. Here is the Playbook.

Reader Poll: Reschenthaler Deserves a Failing Grade for Mueller Hearing: Just over half of the PoliticsPA audience polled believed that Rep. Guy Reschenthaler’s (R-Allegheny) questioning during the Mueller hearing deserved an “F”.

Booker To Rally in Philly: This will be the New Jersey Senator’s first public appearance in the state as a declared presidential candidate.

Harrisburg & DC   
WITF: Mike Pence swings by Franklin County crane facility to push NAFTA replacement
WITF: Cash assistance program for the poor in Pa. ends today
WITF: Wolf administration eyes stimulant use, adds resources for families affected by opioid deaths
Post-Gazette: As Trump’s trade war with China escalates, Toomey leads Congress’ charge to take back tariff authority   
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania Lottery reports record sales after adding online, bar games 
Patriot News: Lakefront property owner has ‘groin’ problem that doctors can’t fix. He went to his legislator instead 
Patriot News: Overdose deaths decrease by 18 percent but Pa. Gov. Wolf says ‘You don’t see a mission accomplished sign here’ 
Patriot News: Court turns down groups’ request to keep cash assistance program temporarily alive for Pa.’s poorest citizens 
Patriot News: Pa. lottery has another record-breaking year, but ticket sales from its newest games fall short of projections
Patriot News: Family Care Act would take money out of workers’ paychecks to guarantee paid family and medical leave
Patriot News: Pa. public schools lag academically but are safer than most nationally: report 
AP: Pence returns to Pennsylvania to urge trade pact’s passage
AP: Lottery reports record sales after adding online, bar games 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Democrats ask Wolf to declare emergency response to cash assistance elimination
PLSReporter: Overdose deaths in Pa. dropped by 18 percent from 2017 to 2018, Wolf says
PLSReporter: Highly-debated cash assistance program ends as Commonwealth Court denies injunction
PLSReporter: Senate bill looking to offer more student debt relief
PLSReporter: 3 under 3!
Beaver County Times: U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey votes against budget deal, Sen. Bob Casey supports it
Beaver County Times: Wolf, state officials announce drop in overdose deaths, detail other anti-addiction efforts
PA Post: From UPMC to Wood-Mode: Thousands of people were laid off in Pennsylvania in the first half of 2019

Philadelphia
Philly Clout: Lou Barletta, out of Congress but still into immigration policy, wants to build that wall
Inquirer: Longest-serving Philly sheriff is sentenced to 5 years in prison for $675K bribery scheme
Inquirer: A looming civil-rights fight could shift political power away from Philly and North Jersey
Inquirer: 7 Philly cops whose Facebook posts were flagged in database scandal have resigned
Inquirer: Philly refinery closure paves the way for pipeline settlement. Midwestern refiners win, for now.
Inquirer: Philadelphia officials declare health emergency over hepatitis A outbreak
Inquirer: What did police do? Protesters demand answers on man’s SEPTA subway track death.
Inquirer: Should more students be suspended? In a new study, some teachers say, yes.
Billy Penn: Independents are on the rise in Philly. Could they actually win a City Council seat?
KYW Newsradio: Philly’s ex-sheriff gets 5 years in prison for taking bribes, kickbacks when he was in office
KYW Newsradio: 7 Philly cops linked to racist Facebook investigation have resigned 
KYW Newsradio: Philly health officials declare emergency over hepatitis A outbreak
WHYY Newsworks: Philly declares public health emergency as Hepatitis A infections surge
WHYY Newsworks: Are blue lights a solution to Philly’s opioid epidemic? 

SEPA 
KYW Newsradio: Boeing unveils new $115M factory for the V-22 Osprey
Daily Local News: Killion calls on PUC to adopt tough pipeline standards
Daily Local News: Pipeline community representatives in battle with PUC for more information
Daily Local News: Killion announces $2 million in local grants
Daily Local News: Sappey to host town hall on redistricting reform in West Goshen
Bucks Local News: Governor Wolf awards $8.5M from Volkswagon settlement to reduce transportation pollution
Bucks Local News: State lawmakers announce $2M grant for YMCA construction projects in Doylestown, Fairless Hills
Delco Daily Times: Boeing unveils new $115M facility in Ridley
Bucks County Courier Times: ‘Deeply troubling’: Lawmakers react to PFAS investigation
Pottstown Mercury: Hate messages written in dust outside state rep’s office
Pottstown Mercury: The number of women in Berks County Prison hit a record this month; officials are trying to find out why

Pittsburgh  
Post-Gazette: Emily Skopov will challenge Pa. House Speaker Mike Turzai again in 2020
Post-Gazette: Independent DA candidate Lisa Middleman files candidacy, will officially launch campaign Thursday night
Post-Gazette: Sheriff’s deputies arrest two activists at jail board meeting, cutting meeting short  
City Paper: Democratic DA Stephen Zappala hates campaigning but is meeting today with Young Republicans 
KDKA: Lisa Middleman Files Candidacy For Allegheny County District Attorney
KDKA: Three Rivers Fallout: City Initiates Criminal Investigation And Sheriff Files Lawsuit
KDKA: Jail Board Meeting Abruptly Ends With Two Arrests  
KDKA: Pittsburgh Awarded Funding For East Liberty Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Tribune Review: Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board meeting cut short after disruption, 2 cited
PLSReporter: Clairton residents and advocates have conflicted feelings on US Steel settlement

SWPA
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cambria officials accept check to reimburse voting system costs
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Voters will get to weigh in on Victims Bill of Rights
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: State OD deaths dropped 18 percent in 2018; stimulant deaths rose
Altoona Mirror: Pence returns to Pa. in trade pact push
Beaver County Times: Beaver County officials want answers on homeless shelter
Observer-Reporter: Four Marianna council members resign
Observer-Reporter: Pipelines fuel panelists’ enthusiasm for natural gas
Observer-Reporter: McDonald-Kemp to be sworn in as Washington County judge 

NEPA
The Times Leader: Philadelphia businessman donates full amount to pay WVW lunch debts
The Times Leader: Auditor General seeks details of WB Area high school consolidation project
The Times Leader: New Luzerne County audit shows surplus
Inquirer: School-lunch debt cleared; N.E. Pa. superintendent ‘appalled and upset’ by district’s foster-care threats to parents
Times-Tribune: Preliminary 2020 Scranton School District budget calls for 6.7% tax hike 
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County projects get $4.5 million in state grants
Times-Tribune: Keystone again trying to change Dunmore zoning ordinance to say landfills are not structures
Times-Tribune: Sanders backers organize early in Lackawanna County
Citizens Voice: WVW receives $22K donation to pay off school lunch tabs
Citizens Voice: County audit shows $4.4M surplus
Citizens Voice: Sanders volunteers plan Scranton event

South Central  
Patriot News: Millenial Republican to challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Perry in GOP primary 
Patriot News: With an eye on pivotal Pa. in 2020, Mike Pence returns to Keystone State to talk up new trade agreement 
Patriot News: Family Care Act would take money out of workers’ paychecks to guarantee paid family and medical leave
Patriot News: Six central Pa. ‘cleaner energy transportation’ projects receive financial support from Volkswagen settlement 
York Dispatch: Perry blames low town hall attendance on ‘fake news’ and liberal spite 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Report suggests Lancaster’s poverty coalition is indeed making a difference
LNP | LancasterOnline: Zero refugees for 2020? Lancaster refugee resettlement orgs say that can’t happen.

Lehigh Valley    
Morning Call: Allentown a ‘city under siege,’ community activist says after police shooting 
Morning Call: School property tax elimination plan to be drafted by handpicked group of Pennsylvania lawmakers
Morning Call: Newsmaker Q&A: Lehigh County Commissioner Amy Zanelli was pivotal in getting anti-discrimination policy passed 
Reading Eagle: Berks-area legislators can’t get behind replacing school property taxes with a new tax on retirement income 
Reading Eagle: Berks County commissioner proposes swapping millions in airport debt for land 
Reading Eagle: Reading redevelopment project gets $1.5 million boost 
Express Times: Which local projects were awarded millions of dollars in state aid? Who missed out? 

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Former city councilwoman takes oath of office again
Erie Times-News: Erie County Council adds conditions to regional college partnership  

Opinion  
Inquirer Editorial Board: Will Governor Wolf’s reforms keep another Glen Mills from happening? 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Kidney punch: A $540,000 dialysis bill showcases health care ills 
Mike Folmer: Yes, Pa. can afford to spend that money. The bigger question: Should it?
Paul Muschick: Why we should consider plan to tax retirement benefits
John L. Micek: Veep Mike Pence to visit central Pa. to plug NAFTA 2.0 | Thursday Morning Coffee
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Surprise! Your Capital One credit card has been hacked!
Abraham Gutman: When police think they’re seen as racist, that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy | Brain Trust
Maria Panaritis: At Ardmore’s Suburban Square, they’re not playing. The mall’s full-body makeover is ‘Wow.’
Pedro A. Ramos: Philadelphia Foundation’s special $1 million initiative benefited from public support 
Will Bunch: Empty parks, pews, and Mexican restaurants: Trump-fed fear has already changed America 
Joseph N. DiStefano: Boeing V-22 Osprey: New Delco factory’s aircraft will carry more ‘raging Marines’ to battle
Carmina Hachenburg: Second Democratic primary debate: Responses from across the web to night two 
John A. Tures: We’re at a pre-9/11 turning point in protecting our elections. We can’t make the same mistake again
Christine Flowers: Amy Klobuchar’s take that not all Trump voters are racist was a pleasant surprise